Plumbing fixture protector



Sept. 6, 1955 D. D. WAGNER 2,717,018

PLUMBING FIXTURE PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 9 1953 46 INVENToR.

DONALD D, "fla/vee,

Y y @MM/.mwa

GEN 7'.

United vStates Pate-nt C 2,711,018 PLUMBING lmmrizc'ron Donaidp. waging-Ei Manie, Cain. Applicationotgber 9,1953, Skinning, 335,141

senin-11s,?. (ci. isti-.52)y

of operations, the plumber is obligated to, and'must, in! stall certain xtures,-such as porcelain sinks, trays, water closetsY and tubs, before the other phases or operations are started. Consequently, it is not uncommon forthe various tradesmen to mis-use the above"mentioned fixtures and to accidentally mar or deface Athem in the course of their operations. For example, a bathtub is`e`sp`ecially vulnerable and is very often damage so extensively that it is even necessary to replace the tub. -ln`view of thisv situation I will in this disclosure'refer specically to a form of the present invention for use over a bathtub, and will describe the present invention as related"to such a situation. f

Itis an object of the invention to provide a protector of the general character referred to, whichk is of simple,

inexpensive construction-and which is such that itc'aln` be easily and convenientlyl applied to a fixture, such as a tub, without the exercise of any great skill.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protector of the general character referred to, vwhich is or plain, simple construction and'is such that it canbe co'n-` veniently and easily cleaned and re-used.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a protector of the character referred to, which may be left iii place when the fixture to be protected is'installed While the other necessary building operations are carried on.

The various objects and features of my invention "will be fully understood from"thefollowing detailed description of a typicalpreferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made" to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a 'corner of a room, such f as a bathroom, showing the protectorn applied 'to `a tub. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional View taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlargedide tailed'sectionalview taken as indicated by line 3--3fonA Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a perspective View 'showing `the'protedtor removed from the tub. Fig. S is an enlarged detailed View showing a portion of the structure with a part 4folded away from and clearing the wall of the building, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the retaining means'` that I have provided.

As shown throughout the drawings, the building or structure to which the plumbing fixture protector is fap-y plicable involves, generally,walls W, a floor" Pfand a` 2,7 l 7,0 18 Patented Sept. 6, 1955 and tiling are installed after the tub is in place. Also,

other operations, Vsuch as plumbing, heating, electrical' wiring and painting, are all carried out after the tubis. installed.

The protector provided by the present invention involves, generally, a top panel A which includes'stilf eiiingf means and iiaps, a front panel B which includes stiffeningf means and iaps, one or two end panels C, when desired?, which includes stilfening means and liaps, and retainersu or stops D for holding the protector in placeon the ture. In the preferred form of the invention the top A4 and front B are integrally formed of heavy flexible mate-w rial, such as canvas or the like. The end panel ,Ci is shown detachable from the other two elementsv and is"` also formed of heavy iiexible material, orthe like. When I refer to heavy exible material or canvas, I mean to in! clude any pliable sheet material or the equivalent thereof, such 'as belting, fiber-glass or plastic. Ieloweverjsinee4 'IQ prefer to use heavy fiber-glass sheet I will described'my j invention as being made thereof.

The top A is horizontally disposed and involves a body or panel 10 of heavy flexible sheet, stitfeningmeans "11 and flaps 17, 18 and 19. The top panel 10 overliesth'e tub T and corresponds in size and shape withA the` tub The panel 10 is a simple, rectangular, elongate element- -having parallel side edges 13 and `14, and 'p'a'rallel'renclfL edges 15 and 16, and the flaps 17, 1`8randy 19 occur atfy the margins oredges of the top A. The flaps 17,18l and" 19'are preferably formed integral with the bddy or panel` 10`- of th top, and iiap 17 is a side flap which is` coex` tensive with the side edge 13 of the panel 10.7,* Flap 17 is adapted to be turned upV and back, orurider, as vshown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The flaps 18an`d`19 arej 'endK flaps which ar'e coextensive with the end edgesrland' 16, respectively, and may be turned up and back,1or under;

in the same manner as the flap 17.

The stilfeningmeans 11 involves simple, elongate battens 20 which extend across or transversely ofthe topi A. There is a plurality of battensI 21) located beneath the panel 1G, and each batten is preferably a simple, iiaftv boardof lumber,"or the like, with parallel sides 21fand ends y22 normal thereto. As shown, the battens' ,areloi cated under thetop A' and terminate at points'fspaced from the edges 13 and 14, so that the 'ap 17 y is'free toA be folded, as shown in Fig. 5y of the drawings.

The battensv20 may be secured to the top A in various manners. able pockets 23. Each pocket'234 is formed by providing an element 24 of heavy flexible sheet, or the like, sewedy Parallel lines of stitching 25`are spaced apart to occur at the sides of'= theelement 24 so that a batteri 2l)l is readily insertablef into the pocket. The ends of the pocket' 23'ar'ewclose'd" off ,by lines of stitching 26 kafter the hatten 21T-.is iny to the underside of the panel 10.

place.

The front B is vertically disposed when in place andl involves a body or panel 30k of heavy flexible sheethorj the like, andis preferably integral with the panel 10'jofV the top A. The front involves stiffening means Salland;` flaps 37, 3S, and 39.` The panel 36 is a simple, rectarii'v gular, elongate element having parallel upper and lower" edges 33, and 34, and parallel vertical end edgesSSpand" 36. The panel 30 overlies, or overhangs`, the front'of* the tub T and is bordered by the marginal flaps 37 :38N and 39.: The upper edge 33 `is coextensive vwith and' joins the side 'edge 14 of the top A lWhere the material'r forming the top A and front B 'is folded, so thatfthe" front Bl depends downwardly from the edge 14 of the'f top'.

The flap 37 is a bottom flap and is coextensive with' up or unde J However, I choose to enclose them in suit-' 3 tion with the flap 1'? above described. The flaps 33 and 39 are end flaps which are cocxtensive with the ver-- tical edges 35 and 36, respectively, and may also be turned up or under as above described.

The stiifening means 3l. involves simple, dat, elongate battons 4l) which extend across or vertically of the front B. There is a plurality of battons lil located beneath or at the inside of the panel Si?, and each batten is preferably a simple, at board of lumber, or the like, having parallel sides 4l and ends 42 normal thereto. As shown throughout the drawings, the battens are located under the panel Si) and terminate at points spaced from the edges 33 and 34, so that the tiap 37 is free to be folded.

It is to be noted that by terminating the battons 250 at a point spaced from the edge 3.1i, and the battons 40 at a point spaced from the edge 33, the panels l and 30, which are integral, are easily folded relative to each other. The flaps i8 and i9 and the ilaps 33 and 39 have free ends 18a and i9, and 38a and 39a, respectively, so that the flaps are movable independently of each other. These ends are formed by cutting a simple slit in the canvas between adjacent ends of the aps.

The battons 4t) may be secured to the panel 3@ of the front B in the same manner as the battons 2li are sccured to the panel l@ of front A. As shown in the drawings, the battons it? are enclosed in pockets 43 formed by an element of flexible sheet material served to the underside of the panel Earailel lines of stitching do are spaced apart so that the batten is readily insertable into the pocket. The ends of the pocket 43 are closed olf by lines of stitching 46 after the hatten 4t) is in place.

The ends C are vertically disposed when in place and involve a body or panel Sti of heavy flexible sheet, or the like, and are preferably removable from the top A. it is to be understood, however, that each end C may be integral with the top, like the front B, or may be sewed thereto, as desired. The ends C are shown releasably fastened to the panel A and each end C includes stifening means 5i, and extension 57, and aps 5S, 59 and ab. The panel Si) is a simple, rectangular element having parallel upper and lower edges 53 and 54, and parallel vertical edges 55 and Se. The extension 57 is coextensive with and projects from the upper edge 53 and is preferably integral therewith.

As shown in the drawings, the end portions of the top A or ap's 18 and 19 are provided with suitably spaced fasteners 7i), and registering fastening elements 71, which are adapted to snap onto the fasteners 7i?, are provided on the extension 57. The aps 59 and dil are side flaps and are coextensive with the edges 55 and 56, and the flap 58 is a bottom iiap and is coextensive with the edge 54. The aps 53, 59 and 6b are all foldable in the manner above described and as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The stilfening means 5l involves simple, flat, elongate battons which extend across or vertically of the end C. A plurality of battens is preferably provided and each involves a simple, dat board of lumber, or the like, having parallel sides 6o and ends 67 normal thereto. As shown in the drawings, the battens are located under the panel 50, or at the inside thereof, and terminate at points spaced from the edges 53 and 54, so that the flap 6i) and the extension 57 are free to be folded as above described.

lt is a feature of the fixture cover which I have p'rovided that the battens 20, 46 and 65 not only act to stiften the panels A, B and C but, in addition, act to space the panels away from the surfaces of the lixture. The battens are all located or placed at the insides of the panels, that is, the sides of the panels which face the tixture. Thus, the top panel A is supported from underneath by the battens 20.

The pockets, formed of the sheet material, which house the battens 20, 4t) and 65 present relatively soft prevents movement in the opposite direction.

T' to clear the same.

isurfaces for engagement with the fixture, so that there is little or no tendency to mar the finish of the fixture where the battens engage the fixture. It will be clear from Fig. 2 of the drawings how the ends of the battens 20 support the top panel A.

The retainers or stops D which hold the top A in place involve lugs or projections S0 which depend from the battens 2b. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, there is a projection at the end of each hatten near the edge 14 suitably spaced from the edge so that the projection engages the inside of the tub T. It will be readily understood how this simple means prevents the protector as a whole from sliding forward, and it will be equally clear how the edge 13 of the heavy stiff sheet material In the preferred form of the invention the projections 84) are in the form of rubber bumpers secured to the battons 20 by means of screws 82. l

From the foregoing detailed description of the fixture cover that I have provided, it will be apparent how the cover is applied to a bathtub which has been installed in a building structure. It will also be apparent how the flaps that I have provided may be individually folded away from the wall, or floor, as the case may be, in order It is to be noted that once the protector is installed it may be manipulated without being removed from the tub, so that any all work may be performed by the other tradesmen. When the protector is not in use it may be folded or rolled up as desired.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specitic details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims. Y

Having described my invention, l claim:

l. A protector of the character described, applicable to a fixture having an open horizontally disposed liat top and a vertically disposed front, including, a top panel coextensive with and covering the top, battens extending across the top to have supporting engagement with the side parts of the fixture and reinforcing the top, and a front panel coextensive with and covering the front.

2. A protector of the character described, applicable to a fixture having an open horizontally disposed flat top and a vertically disposed front, including, a top panel coextensive with and covering the top, battens extending across the top to have supporting engagement with the side parts of the lixture and reinforcing the top, a front panel coextensive with and covering the front, and projections depending from the top and engageable with the fixture to retain the protector on the fixture.

3. A protector of the character described, applicable to a fixture having a horizontally disposed top and a vertically disposed front, including, a top panel coextensive with and covering the top, battens extending across and reinforcing the top, flaps along the margins of the top, a front panel depending from the top coextensive with and covering the front, battens extending across and reinforcing the front, and iiaps along the margins of the front.

4. A protector of the character described, applicable to a fixture having a horizontally disposed top, a vertically disposed front, and a vertically disposed end, including, a top panel coextensive with and covering the top, battens extending across and reinforcing the top,' Aaps along the margins of the top, a front panel depending from the top coextensive with and covering the front, battens extending across and reinforcing the front, flaps along the margins of the front, an end panel depending from the top coextensive with and covering the end, battens extending across and reinforcing the end, and aps along the margins of the end.

5. A protector of the character described, applicable to a fixture having a horizontally disposed top, a verti- AA'. `ll

cally disposed front, and a vertically disposed end, including, a top panel coextensive with and covering the top, battens extending across and reinforcing the top, aps along the margins of the top, a front panel depending from the top coextensive with and covering the front, battens extending across and reinforcing the front, aps along the margins of the front, an end panel depending from the top coextensive with and covering the end, battens extending across and reinforcing the end, aps along the margins of the end, and projections depending from the top, and engageable with the xture to retain the protector on the fixture.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Kraemer Feb. 26, 1884 Castle Sept. 22, 1903 Brown Aug. 31, 1920 Schleich et al Dec. 14, 1926 Taylor Mar. 3, 1931 Johnson Jan. 21, 1936 Sackstein Nov. 8, 1949 Corley Dec. 8, 1953 

